AN ANGRY Porthmadog farming family are calling on dog owners to keep their pets under control after a spate of gruesome attacks on their sheep.

Rhian and Tom Hughes, who run Porthyrhirfaen Farm in Morfa Bychan, say they have been left devastated after losing a number of sheep due to the “reckless” attitude of some dog owners.

During the summer of 2015 one of the sheep was ‘ripped to pieces’ on the popular Morfa Bychan beach and many have been chased and mauled by dogs along the coastal path into Criccieth.

After two attacks only last week, which led to one sheep having to be put down, Mrs Thomas and her husband are now calling for dog owners to keep their pets on leads when walking along the coastal path towards Criccieth, which passes through their land.

She said: “Sheep worrying is a serious issue for us here in Black Rock Sands, not only does it cause us financial loss, but it’s also very disheartening.

“We feel we are fighting to keep our sheep alive and it angers me that people are so recklessly allowing their pets to destroy our livelihood.

“We had a horrific experience on Christmas Eve when we were told a sheep had been attacked on Sandy Beach where it had been ripped to pieces.

“More recently one of our sheep was so badly mauled we had to take her to the vet’s to be put down, which has left her lamb without a mother, so we are having to hand rear it, it’s very sad.

“People don’t understand how horrendous it is to have to lift these animals, which have been mauled by a dog, up off the ground – all you can smell is raw flesh.”

See full story in this week's Arfon/Dwyfor edition.